Purlie Victorious
(1963)

Director: Nicholas Webster

Key Cast: Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Sorrell Booke, Godfrey Cambridge, Hilda Haynes, Alan Alda, Beah Richards, Charles Welch, Ralph Roberts

Rating: Unrated

Genre(s): Comedy, Drama

Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee star in "Purlie Victorious."

"Purlie Victorious" is a comedy satire about a black preacher named Purlie (Ossie Davis), who returns
home to rural Georgia to claim an inheritance and bring down the ruthless plantation owner that he once served. 

Accompanying Purlie is Miss Lutoebelle Jenkins (Ruby Dee), a pretty young girl who has captured his heart and
who he is using to claim the inheritance.

He finds a surprise ally in the plantation owner's son named Charlie (Alan Alda),
a progressive Southern gentleman who takes matters into his own hands, eventually
helping Purlie emerge victorious.

•  "Purlie Victorious" is also known as Gone Are the Days! When Purlie Victorious was first released on film, it
was named Gone Are the Days!  When the movie was re-released later, the name was changed back to the
original Broadway play name, Purlie Victorious.

• This movie is based on the successful Broadway play with the same name. Ossie Davis wrote the stage play. 

• Ossie Davis wrote both the film and Broadway versions of "Purlie Victorious".

• All of the actors in the movie played the same roles in the play, except for Hilda Haynes who plays Missy Judson.  Godfrey Cambridge was nominated for a 1962 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play.

• "Purlie Victorious" was later made into the Broadway musical named Purlie in 1970.  Purlie starred Cleavon Little, Melba Moore and John Hefferman, 

Buy the Purlie Victorious Movie DVD
"Purlie Victorious" is based on a stage play that
was written by Ossie Davis. Ossie Davis also
wrote this film version.

Ossie Davis and his wife, Ruby Dee, both star
in this comedy movie. And it was the screen debut
for actor Alan Alda.

 
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Purlie Victorious (also known as "Gone Are the Days") Movie Posters
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